Anyone know off hand what the difference is between the two as far as sound quality... I know the QY-100 is the newer model, but they both use the exact same XG voice set. From my understanding even though it has the XG voice set there are still 4mbs of sound to that set (which really isn't that bad)... My PSR-550 has 8mbs, and from what I was told by Yamaha that 8mb's is shared with the XG voices as well (not sure if that's really true though)... Anyone have an experience with these two units? I've heard many good things about them and from what I also understand the sequencers in them are quite good in that they function like a standard 16 track you'd find on a synth... Both units apparntly have an 8 track pattern recorder and a 16 track linear sequencer.. I'm wondering if they operate like my old Yamaha EX-7 because it too had an 8 track pattern sequencer and 16 track linear as well... Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Squeak

Squeak,
One of the differences of the QY boxes and the EX5 keyboard is that you can trigger the patterns on the QY just like an arranger keyboard as long as you use the 3 finger chord method. The QY will not recognize single finger mode. You can also use it just like the EX5 sequencer as you mention using the 8 track pattern sequences along with the 16 track linear sequencer.
The major difference between the QY70 and QY100 is that the 100 has a smart media slot for storing and loading midi files and there is a seperate effects unit inside the 100 for use with a mic or guitar. Other differences are being able to use a sustain pedal on the 100 for start/stop and other functions.
The QY's run on batteries or A/C and are quite small and are great for use as a midi sequencer, tone module and arranger when used with a digital piano, lap top, etc.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

Thanks so much George for the info.. I think I have a buyer for my PSR-550, and I was considering picking up one of these little QY units... Granted the 550 is fun to play, but I find anymore that I just really use it for backing tracks.. Even though I've been playing piano most of my life, I also play guitar and drums, and I realized last night that when I record I most often just use the 550 to add backing tracks so such powerful solo instruments such as the "cool" and "sweet" voices on my Yamaha aren't really getting used.. I also realized that I'm using more XG sounds for my recording too... When I sell my 550 I'm going to get either a QY-70 or a QY-100 and just get a cheap controller for it. That way I'll have a much more powerful sequencer than I do on my PSR-550. I might just get a QY-70 though.. I do like the idea that the 100 has effects for guitars and mics, but I like to use outboard effects for my guitar.. Plus I also have the Zoom MRS-4 and the Zoom MRT-3 and the MRS-4 has effects in it as well...... Even though the QY-70 doesn't have a smart media slot you can still hook it up to the computer and dump your data that way.. I see the QY-100 is going for $499 (which is a great price), and the QY-70 on ebay is going for quite a bit less.. Of course I'd rather find a QY-70 somewhere other than Ebay too.. Again thanks for the info...

Squeak

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,6373,CNTID%253D2211%2526CTID%253D206700%2526VNM%253DLIVE%2526AFLG%253DY,00.html

I own a QY-70. While I think it is a great unit, there is one big disadvantage compared to the PSRs. That is, there are thousands of free styles available for PSR keyboards on the Internet. The QY series cannot use these and there is no comparable source of styles for the QY series.

Clif,
Styles really aren't an issue with me considering I mostly program my own. One of the main reasons I first go into arrangers was primarily for the drum part of the styles... I end up deleting all the other tracks and adding my own. Now that use a drum machine I don't even mess with the styles on my PSR-550 anymore. I like how the sequencers are set up on the QY's. They're similiar to the EX series which I'm quite familiar with. If I bought the either QY It would primarily be for the sequencing power. Oh how are the drums on the QY's??? Are the pretty much the same thing as the PSR's?

Squeak

Sorry for the same reply, I was occupied this weekend. Yamaha has a "stock" XG set that it includes in most of its synths. Most of the arrangers include additional higher-quality sounds. So the QY does not match the better sounds of the synths. On the other hand, when you play a general-MIDI file or an XG song file, these are the sounds that are used even on the arranger keyboards. Since the MIDI files sound good to me, the QY drums are certainly serviceable. HTH.

Thanks Clif,
I think I'll pick up a QY-100 when I sell my 550..

Squeak